John McCain: President Obama ‘insufficient’ on VA

Sen. John McCain on Wednesday called President Barack Obama’s remarks on the VA scandal “wholly insufficient” in addressing the problems at the department.

“While I am glad that after many weeks of refusing to acknowledge this widening scandal, President Obama finally saw fit to speak about it today, but his remarks are wholly insufficient in addressing the fundamental, systemic problems plaguing our veterans’ health care system,” the Arizona Republican and Vietnam veteran said in a statement.

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“This administration’s ineffectual response has created a crisis of confidence in our veterans’ community. We need answers, leadership and accountability, none of which we’ve seen from the Obama administration to date,” he added.

The Senate Armed Services Committee member concluded by pushing for legislation that would make it easier for VA officials to be fired, an apparent reference to the VA Management Accountability Act supported by House Speaker John Boehner, among others.

The senator has been vocal about reports that at least 40 veterans died while waiting for health care in the Phoenix VA system. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) allowed McCain, who isn’t a committee member, to participate in the committee’s hearing on the scandal last week because of the allegations in his home state of Arizona.

Obama’s remarks Wednesday were his first major statement on the VA scandal since he was asked about it at a press conference in the Philippines on April 28.

The president took a strong tone, saying: “If these allegations prove to be true, it is dishonorable, it is disgraceful, and I will not tolerate it — period.”

But Obama stood by VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, whom many lawmakers have called on to resign. The secretary “has been a great soldier, and nobody cares more about our veterans,” he said.

In the GOP weekly radio address last week, McCain said veterans don’t have time to wait on the results of the VA inspector general report currently being conducted. “They need answers, accountability and leadership from this administration and Congress now,” he said.